This one allowed me to check off one
item on my bucket list. The one where I wanted to create doily worthy of the
1st place prize in that division. I cried tears of joy for that one. It really
meant a lot to me since thread and doilies are my all time favorite things to
create and create with.

Well
enough credits, bragging and sharing.

Here
are my thoughts about crochet at this time.

This
year I moved from Phoenix Arizona to Muskogee Oklahoma.

What this brought home
to me was how much environment plays in our crochet choices.

I
went from an environment that I was lucky to wear my light shawls 1-2 months
out of the year to an environment that I will be really glad to crochet me more
hats, scarves and gloves this next year.

It really did get me thinking about the
things that influence our choices in what comes off of our hooks.

Environment

In our homes for example a cook might be more
inclined to crochet hot pads, dishcloths, place mats and cookware totes.

Someone like me who collects antiques might
want to crochet more doilies, tablecloths and the like to accent and protect my
treasures.

Or maybe you are more contemporary and pillows,
rugs and throws to accent your furniture.

A busy parent might crochet toys for their
children or clothes for them. Or maybe some great crochet beanbag chairs. Not
to forget those whom have become grandparents may well choose the same sort of
item.

Climate

Where it is hot most of the year one does not
feel very inclined to make sweaters, heavy shawls, warm hats, gloves and warm
scarves. No, you are more inclined to make light lacey shawls, Airy sun hats,
and scarves that are more air the thread. The lighter the better. Not only does
it influence the type of items you crochet, But the colors and the type of yarn
you might use. When the sun beats down on you head you don’t want dark colors.
But light colors. White, soft baby blue, yellow, and creams all are more what
you would be inclined to use in this type of enviroment. Laceweight, sock yarn
and thread would be more appropriate to this type of work and the big bulky
yarn wouldn’t hold the same appeal to you in this sort of climate. Cotton and
silk would seem a better choice over wool too.

Where the winters are decidedly cold and you
have transitional months all those things would not have nearly the charm.
Instead sweaters, vests, warm shawls, gloves, mitten, and fingerless mitts
would hold more charm. Not to mention cowls and scarves. Things that can be
layered on as needed and still be fashionable would appeal more to you. Darker
colors that absorb the heat from the sun would be seen more often. The fibers
would have more bulk and most likely have more wool content than in the warmer
climate.

So as my environment has changed I know what
will call to me to make will change a bit also. I will be curious to see how
this changes the things I design. Maybe, just maybe I may even design a cowl
someday. Okay, don’t hold your breath on that one.

Regardless
though of who you are and were you live as long as there is something on you
hook that brings you pleasure and satisfaction it is all good.

Monday, March 9, 2015

I know, it's been forever since I wrote on my blog. That is because a lot has been happening in my life.

I no longer live in Arizona

We sold our house and moved.

Where you ask.... Why Muskogee Oklahoma.

Why you ask....... Because.

actually for a lot of reasons.

Decent climate. Not too hot.... Not too cold.

Oh I know they get both. But not to extremes and not forever and a day.

It's green and my soul was crying for green growing things.

Nice people. We visited the area last summer and everyone was very friendly. So far everyone has been wonderful since we moved. Not so small town that we feel like outsiders, but not such a large city that we feel like we are just another one of the masses. Nice balance.

Easy access to lakes and hiking. Lots of subject matter for my camera later this year. Once we get the house just the way we want it.

Green Leaf state park

I am almost as close to a major airport as I was in Phoenix, But the drive is now lovely.

The sky changes more often. I love looking at clouds and their play across the sky. The day after day of blue in Phoenix actually was hard on me at times.

The house the day of inspection

We have found a wonderful house for us. We actually upsized. Which gives us the family room and a room for each of us to have our own project room. Marv is thinking about trains. he tried it years before, but with no space large enough to set up a nice layout he set it aside. Now he can.

family room before transformation

You know what my room will be for. Thread, yarn, craft and more thread. Oh and my beads, sewing and what ever else my fingers want to play with.

Pip has his own fenced yard that he can go out and just wander in anytime he wants. He loves to sit on the brick wall around the patio and watch the squirrel in the trees. Should be interesting this summer. And I will have room for a garden. Already starting to map it out.

Garden layout

The cats now have their own little fenced yard they have access to from my craft rm. So they can sit in the sun and be cats while being safe.

My hook seems happy here and I am full of ideas and have done some nice work so far.

Hopefully once we get the house the way we want these beauties will be put to use.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

I can't say I have ever taken a vacation just for the fun of it. Normally we go see family, or such. Oh we do the occasional weekend. But 5 days of being treated to good food, wonderful scenery and great conversations made my trip to Maine exceptional.

Michele Maks of Mainly Crochet invited me to come stitch by the sea after convention. Promised me a lobster dinner. Now who in their right mind could say NO to that.

It was wonderful. I got to wiggle my toes in the Atlantic ocean, Eat ice cream while watching sail boats come and go in Camden Harbor, see the awesome view from Camden Hill, walk the Giants steps, eat more ice cream in a flower garden, wander a secluded cove.

Then there was the fabulous food. If Michele ever decided to quit the crochet world. she would make an awesome chef. We had our lobster as promised and I can now say I have ravaged a whole lobster on my own. Then there was crochet talk, photo shoots, picture taking and my hook was happily creating when ever I got the chance.

Loved all the beautiful green.

and would love to visit Maine again.

Of course Michele's dog Mika made a point to make sure I wasn't too dog deprived without Pippie.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Well I have been home a few days now and my mind and body are beginning to slide back into my normal routines.

Not that anything is normal these days, but more on that in another post.

I had a grand time at convention. Enjoying what I like best about the whole thing. Talking, sharing and rubbing elbows with fellow crochet addicts.

I was very pleased with how I did in the design contest.

I finally took a 1st place in the Thread division. So I get to cross an item off my bucket list.

My skirt took a 2nd in the Fashion Division which of course thrilled me.

My Riviera Shawlette got an honorable mention. But when I posted it to my CrochetNBeads page on facebook it took off like a house on fire. over 24,500 looks, That was just mind blowing.

So the reactions to all my pieces have left me with a warm glow.

To be honest I was a little disappointed with the banquet. Being the 20th anniversary. I expected a celebration program. There wasn't much to be honest. Just a short program and the fashion show, Which felt a little rushed this year. I hated the half hour standing in the hall waiting to get in once they opened the door. It would have been much nicer to have set my things down at my table then wandered and visited. As was we just moved the line in a bit closer and we paid for that privilege.

I took 2 classes. One with Mary Beth Temple on Independent pattern publication to see if she had some ideas I hadn't thought of. She did and I will have to give some thought on how to incorporate them into my business.

The second was my fun class. Free Form with Margaret Hubert. She is such a dear and it was so fun to take her class. I made me a little needle case instead of the bag as I know me and a purse would sit in a drawer. The needle case will go in my work bag and I will think of the fun I had creating it every time I use it.

Next year will be San Diego. Which was a surprise as it was my understanding the west coast just doesn't draw enough people. There will also most likely not be a design contest either. Oh well the ideas that are brewing for it will have a little more time to mature this time.

Then I had the fun and privilege of heading to Maine with Michele Maks for 5 days. I will share that experience tomorrow. Lets just say my camera got a work out. Loved the green......

Monday, May 19, 2014

With my head pounding from the crud that will not let go and an idea that is just as tenacious. I decide I might as well get up and try and relieve both problems.

So after doing my Canadian goose imitation, I grab my clip board, pencil, and a throat drop, I head out on the back porch and the cool night air. Sitting comfortably for the moment, I start my sketch of the motif that was keeping me awake.

I had it almost complete when I realized

I wasn't alone....................

..............scurrying across the floor was a mouse.

Apparently in a moment of relived youth one of the cats brought it in. Of course enthusiasm probably waned quickly and they let it go.

So it's just me and the mouse. I quietly closed the door. The mouse wasn't going to get into my home.... No Siree!

Armed with nothing but a clip board I start my attack.

Dodging first right,

then left,

then right again,

Deftly switching my clip board from one hand to the other.

left then

right again,

the battle goes on.

I finally prevail,

and the mouse scoots out the door I had opened for him.

He turns around and slams back into the door I had just shut.

( not my fault he's not very smart, he did get up and run away )

So all ends well,

I feel like a super hero.

Preserving my home, protecting the innocent,

and being kind to dumb animals all at one time.

I look down and laugh

I do have my super hero suit on.

No spandex or leotards here, But

The one I wear all the time.

I am NAKED.....

See we all wear the same super hero suit.

We can all be heroes

In small ways,

Without being on U tube.

( Believe me I definitely don't want my little episode to go viral on the net. This is not a young svelte body I am flashing here, but a woman nearing 60. Nor can my neighbors, or passing strangers can see onto my porch My super hero identity is safe )

Like Clark Kent though I hide my suit everyday under layers of clothing

Friday, May 16, 2014

Yesterday afternoon I had a horrible moment when my tablet hit the tile floor in the kitchen. Tablet 0, Floor 1..... After the tears dried up, I was still a bit shaken to say the least. It's never a good time to have that sort of expense pop out of the clear blue. But I finally put things in proper perspective. It wasn't the end of the world. Just the tablet. It could be replaced. And we did replace it last night as I truly do need it. It keeps me mobile and in touch anywhere we go. Plus I can work on it unlike my smart phone.

Since my brain was whirling and twirling, I decided discretion was the better part of valor and put up my doily design I am working on. Figured anything I did yesterday would have to be redone. So why add to my frustration level. None of my projects that demand my focus was going to be a good idea.

So I found the thread I want to use for the Mariah Shawl. Chose my hook, and started crocheting.

Well of course I can't leave anything alone and within a half hour I was going OOOOH! What If...

So, ripppp.... and away I go in a slightly different direction. So much happier with it so far.

But now it's no longer the Mariah Shawl. I have decided to rename this version Maria..... Because now the design is signing to me.

So out of disaster come success. You just never know what is going to set things in motion.

You will have to wait until I am done to see the Maria Shawl

Mariah Shawl in Paton's Lace

Like but not love

Thought of blaming all this on the full moon.

But lets be honest. I am a bit of a KLUTZ

I put in some Oleander this year. My first blooms in the evening light

I will be glad when May is over though It's been a rough month so far.

Friday, May 9, 2014

When I got home from her memorial I found Marv suffering with a nasty bug. He's still suffering, but he invited me to join him. Isn't he kind and generous?

But in spite of all that I have continued to work.

Finished one design last week. Though I think it will look nicer in thread. So that's on my list to redo.

Sigh.......

At least the pattern is written. I intend to self publish this design when I am totally happy with it.

I almost have a doily complete. Though I had to walk away for a couple days from it as I definitely was not thinking straight. I have most of the pattern written up, and good notes for the rest so far. Hoping to finish it early next week. I know better than to think it will get done this weekend. Too many other things seem to happen on weekends. All to the good, but not conducive to the type of thinking I need to do for this design.

Like most of my doily designs it has morphed from the original sketch.

For the better I would like to think

Will have to wait and see when it's done.

Doesn't mean my hook won't be working. There is always a project that needs my attention.

While working on this doily I found 4 flower motifs that I hadn't written up, so had to stop and rectify that situation, and as I progressed I found another one. It's pinned on my bulletin board so I don't forget it again.

So hard to stay totally on top of things. Though the clip board helps for my projects, it doesn't help for my snippets, swatches, or trials that I do when an idea strikes me.

FrontThe upside this week is another one of my designs was released at Mainly Crochet. They have lots of my designs now, and I am working on more for them all the time. So go check them out.

Kathryn White Designs

Loading...

Crochet N Beads

I am a crochet designer with a passion for thread, but all mediums are fair game. This is where I will share my dreams, hopes, and aspirations on my journey to create my crochet designs.
You can find my work on my website http://www.crochetnbeads.com/ , in my Etsy shop Crochetnbeads, and on Ravelry under Katchkan or Kathryn White.